From the turn of the century through the
1960s Kep was Cambodia's premier beach town, drawing holiday-makers
to its breezy shores and nearby
Bokor Hill
Station. Back in the day luxurious villas of the
privileged class dotted the seaside. A few still remain, now ruined
vestiges of an earlier era. These days Kep is known more for its
oceanfront ‘Crab Market,’ excellent seafood dining and relaxed
tropical atmosphere. A kilometer from the Crab Market a single short
but picturesque sliver of sand,
Kep Beach,
sits at the southern tip of the peninsula where several
guesthouses
and
restaurants
are clustered. Though there are now dozens of hotels, guesthouses
and even luxury resorts across the area, Kep still has a rustic
getaway feel to it - jungled mountains, a quiet beach and oceanside
crab shacks. Kep is a place to relax and dine by the seaside and use
as a base to visit
Rabbit
Island (Koh Tunsay,) to explore the
national park,
to see the nnearby caves and
rural
countryside.